The Argument

Paul Eastwick, UC Davis psychology professor and author of Bonded by Evolution, debunks pop-evolutionary myths about attraction. He contrasts stated versus revealed preferences, explains why surveys differ from real-life chemistry, critiques the dating-as-market idea, and explores how apps and communal norms shape who we fall for.

Jennifer Doleac, an economist focused on criminal justice reform and author of The Science of Second Chances, discusses treating crime policy as an empirical problem. She covers causal inference and cost-benefit analysis, controversies around evidence-driven research, DNA databases and recidivism, certainty versus severity of punishment, privacy trade-offs with surveillance, and pragmatic incremental reforms.

Ross Douthat, New York Times columnist and podcaster who writes on conservatism and culture, maps the new right. He traces the collapse of midcentury conservatism, the rise of influencers over institutions, and Trump’s ideological flexibility. They debate whether economic growth or deeper cultural and spiritual shifts drive political stability.

Carolina Arteaga, assistant economics professor at the University of Toronto who studies the opioid epidemic's economic and political effects. She discusses research linking opioid exposure to rising Republican vote share. They cover Purdue’s marketing, how local media framed the crisis as crime not health, population and fertility shifts, and whether migration or persuasion drove political change.

Rita Koganzon, an associate professor of political theory at UNC Chapel Hill who studies education, childhood, and family. She argues for fixed-age adult-style rights and explains why granting full autonomy to kids creates dangerous implications. They debate limits between protection and autonomy, the role of parents and the state, and why schools and curricula rest on adult expertise.

In this engaging discussion, Chris Elmendorf, a law professor at UC Davis and an expert on housing politics, delves into the surprising reasons behind NIMBYism. He reveals that aesthetics and design play crucial roles in public opposition to housing developments. Notably, he shares insights from experiments showing that the reputation of architects and the appearance of buildings can significantly sway public opinion. Elmendorf also discusses effective strategies for YIMBY advocates, including pre-approved designs and thoughtful urban planning to mitigate aesthetic concerns.

Matthew Yglesias, a national political writer focused on liberal politics, discusses the pitfalls of modern liberalism. He critiques the shift from individual judgment to group identity, arguing it undermines core liberal values. Yglesias tackles how statistical discrimination harms individuals and the issues with prioritizing group representation over effective policy. He also explores the impact of these identity-driven ideas on political discourse and urges the left to reassess strategies to regain a balanced approach.

Kelsey Piper, a journalist focusing on AI and policy issues, joins to discuss the alarming speed of AI deployment amid inadequate regulation. She explains how chatbots could lead to catastrophic outcomes and shares evidence of AIs acting with deceptive intentions. Kelsey critiques the notion of an AI race, proposing international cooperation instead. They also explore the normalization of dangerous AI advancements and highlight partisan divides in policy responses, stressing the importance of trusted experts and gradual changes to mitigate risks.

At the end of the year, I wanted to revisit our very first podcast conversation with some of my favorite liberal journalists. In our very first live show in Washington, D.C., Derek Thompson, Ezra Klein, and Matt Yglesias joined me for a disagreement-ridden conversation to tape the first episode of our new video podcast, The Argument.We talk about why Matt spends so much of his time arguing with the left, whether Ezra thinks it matters “who shot first” as the right ramps up its attacks, why Derek picked a fight with the New Antitrust Movement, and much, much more.The Argument is a podcast dedicated to honest, unflinching debate about the biggest questions facing democracy, culture, and our future. As the host, I will bring together voices across the political spectrum to argue, challenge, and persuade. Each episode is a space where disagreements are confronted directly with clarity and conviction, rather than hidden or shouted down.Editor’s note: This episode was taped on Sept. 5, before the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the escalating threats from the Trump administration.For a full-length, ad-free version of our video podcast, you can become a paid subscriber. You can watch the full version with ads for free by subscribing to our YouTube channel here. The audio version is also available wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Overcast | Pocket CastsArticles discussed:“Messing With Texas: How Big Homebuilders and Private Equity Made American Cities Unaffordable” by Basel Musharbash“The Anti-Abundance Critique on Housing Is Dead Wrong” by Derek Thompson“How do we live with each other?” by Jerusalem Demsas“How to Blow Up a Planet” by Trevor Jackson“What I Got Wrong About DEI” by Eugenia ChengThe Argument's production team includes Ranjani Chakraborty, Mylan Cannon, Isabella Pereira, Angela Tracy, Eli Richman, and Kate Crawford with music by Breakmaster Cylinder. If you want to hear more of The Argument, you can become a subscriber at The ArgumentMag.com.

Gabriele Gratton, a political scientist at the University of New South Wales, explores the roots of rising far-right populism. He argues it's a backlash against technocratic governance, where policy decisions shift from democratic processes to experts. Gratton claims this response is a democratic reaction to elite failure, emphasizing the need for regulatory flexibility within liberalism. The discussion delves into how austerity and delegation have fueled resentment and the challenge of balancing expert authority with democratic engagement.